Sheet separator and conveyer



March 3, 1931. A. J. FREEMAN 1,794,843

SHEET SEPARATOR AND CONVEYER Filed March 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l [NW-N702.

March 3, 1931. FREEMAN 1,794,843

SHEET SEPARATOR AND CONVEYER Filed Mal oh 5, 1929 1 2 Sheets-Shet 2 6. fA/Vf/WOA 1% Patented Mar. 3, 1931 o j ieE A'RT'IiifR J". FREEMAN, or AiAMEnA, CALIFORNIA SfiEE'l sEI KRAToR Ann convene anama filed March 5',

Mylinvention' relates to a machine forau tomatic allyseparating: and conveying a single sheet of material from a' magazine containing a plurality. of such sheets to a printing 5'- positiom h'oldingit' incontact with a'print ing plate fora predetermined period oftime and then discharging it fromi the machine.

An object .of my invention is to provide a device" in which a pneumatic suction cup 1s ID-"nio'unt'ed. integral with" a' platen and will recess into the face of the platen and serve as a portion thereof during the time that the platen' is holding a sheetin contact with a printing plate and a means for positioning the platen'andcup, adjacent a:stack' of sheets, so that when suction is-applied to the cup-it will separate'an'd remove a single sheet from the stack. I r f 7 Another object ,of-my invention is to pro-' vide a machine of-thelcharacter describedin which thesheets'in t'hevmagazine are held in approximately a horizontalposition while the t printing plate is'in" a perpendicular or inclined position:

A further object of my invention is to provide a device'which' will separate and remove from a stacltone sheet onlyat eachoperation.

A still further object of myinvention isto p ro'vi'de a pneumatic suction cup which w1llflex the sheet to'be separated and lift it so that the lift willxbeg-in'at'the outer edge'and' progress inwardly.

My invention possesses other obyects and featuresof advantage,gsomeof which, With theforegoing, will'be set for-thin theifollow 'iii'g description of the" preferred foi'niofmy invention" which is illustrated in the drawiiigs a'c'companyingand formingfa part of the specification.

lVhilezmy machine is" perfectly adapted to the'pr inting'ofphotogi'aplisflt is to be understood that I do'not limit myself to this one adaptation nor to the showing made bythe saidfdrawingsanddescription; as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. I R'efer r ing to the said: drawings 5 Fig; 1 is" a side view:' ofmy invention with some of the'parts broken'a'way to show parts anenlarged-view of cam 16 1929'; Serial Nb. 3443353.

that would otherwise be hidden and shows theplaten in normal position in fulllinesand in cont-actposition in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the pneumatic sheet separating device, showing: in dotted 55 linesthe shape andposition of the suction cup before the suction isapplied and in full lines the shape andmosition of-the cup and sheet after the suction-is applied. Fig. 3 is a front GlEVZL'lJIOII of the sheet magazine and co suction-cup, showlnghow the cup flexe's and lifts the-topmost sheet .when tlre suction is 1 applied. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on lines 2 2' of"Fig-. 5, showingthe normal shape, of the-suction cup; Fig." 5 is a, plan'view of the suction cup. Figafiis planview of the 7 machine as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 7 is. a sec tional viewon lines 11 of Fig. 1. Fig.8 is

and co-operating parts. 7 p p t Inthe'drawings, VA represents a frame in which the'various parts of my invention are mounted, this frame being disposed in substantially a horizontal position with the eX- ception of-the memberAv which extends upward at an angle slightly inclined fromthe perpendicular. Themember A is formed with a recess for holding-a plate 1, which may be aphotographic negative from which it is desired to make prints.

Extending across'and between the sides of, and journale'd in,,the,frame A is a rocker shaft 2, to which is rigidly attached a pair of arms To and between the outer-ends of these arms a platen l ispivot allymounted tr; andadapted to have a rocking movement, about saidpivot, controlled bya link 5, one end of which is pivoted to the platen and the. other'to the frame The platen is designed toalso have a reciprocating movement to and between a stack of sheets 6, supported within the frame A, and the plate 1. This movement is produced by a grooved camv7 which when rotated wilhdeliver a rocking movement tothe lever 8, fixed on the shaft2, and carrying on its outer end a roller 9 adapted to fit? the groove in'the cam. The pivots '10 and-1-1 of link -5 are so located, relative tov thearms 3-andthe frame A, thatthe platen, when in'ainormal positionas shown by solid 1% Extending laterally across and through suitable journals in the platen tis a rocker shaft 15, the ends of which are rigidly attached to the arms 3. Mounted on this shaft is a cam 16 adapted to be operated by the shaft and also to have a limited free move-' ment about the shaft. This cam is so located on the shaft that its face will be directly beneath and bear against a lever 17, the inner end of which is pivoted to a block 18 fixed on the outer end of the stem 12. In the outer end of lever 17 is. a slot 19 which fits a stationary pin 20. This'slot allows the lever to have a reciprocating movement longitudinally and also a rocklng movement about the W hen the platen 4 is swung upward to itsprinting position and is rocked on the shaft '15 by the link 5, the cam 16, after a time will be engaged by the drive pin 21 and will have an outward movement in relation to the platen and will lift the inner end of the lever 17 and move the stem 12 to its upward position, against the pressure of theleaf spring 22, which position is attained when the platen at arrives at a printing position, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the platen moves downward on its return to the normal position, the cam 16 will be free for a time to turn on the shaft and due to the pressure exerted by the spring 22 and the friction between the cam and the lever 17, the cam will maintain the outward position, relative to the platen, until the platen has nearly reached its normal position, at which time the cam is engaged by the drive pin 21, and after being moved a few degrees, will get past center and the spring 22 will instantly move the stem 12 to its downward normal position.

Thesuction cup 18 is so mounted on the stem 1.2 that it will be normally disposed appror-iimately parallel with the face of the platen 4 and at a distance therefrom, but, when the stem 12 is moved to its upward position, it will be drawn into the recess 23 provided therefor in the face of the platen. A perforation 24 in the suction cup communicateswith the hole in the tubular stem 12, through which air may be withdrawn or discharged to alternately create or break a vacuum in the cup. This cup is designed to serve as a sheet separating means and also as a means for conveying sheets'to, and in conjunction with the platen 4, for holding them into contact with plate 1; this purpose is ac complished by'temporarily altering the shape of the cup at predetermined times. The cup is formed with a sealing rim 25 and for the purpose of separating a sheet from the stack, is brought into contact with the sheet, held at an angle as is shown in Fig. 1. .Theshape of the cup, owing to its flexible nature, will be altered when brought against the sheet so that the sealing rim will, at all points, come into contact with the sheet and form a seal enabling the air to be withdrawn from between the cup and the sheet, thereby affixing the sheet to the cup. An air pump 26 is pro vided for this purpose. The body 27 of the cup, being of heavier material, will maintain its shape and the lower side thereof will be held firmly against the sheets. As the air is withdrawn from the cup the atmospheric pressure will cause the cup to flatten and the free section of the rim will lift and the sheet affixed thereto will be flexed and lifted, the

lift beginningat the outer edge and progress ing inwardly, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The inherent resistance 'of the sheets to flexure produces a downwardpressure, at the ed e on all of the underl. in sheets when the attempt is'made to flex them, which results in an action that, due to the lift beginning at the edge, allows air to enter between the outermost sheet and the one immediately beneath it, thus effecting a separatio-n'ofthe sheets and preventing more than one being carried away at a time.v

Extending inwardly for a distance from the frame brackets 28, and above the outermost sheet in the stack 6, are the projections 29. Extending inwardly for a distance, and over, and at a distance above, and situated 'ear the inward end of the stack 6, are the members 30, and these, togetherwith the pro jecting members 29, serve tohold the edges of the sheetsdowmand when a sheet is being lifted produce a slight relative action between the sheets, which action,- assists in their separation and enables the sheets to be separated. at a high rate of speed.

When the suction cup with a sheet affixed hereto is carried by the platen to a printing position, it is withdrawn into the recess 23, and as the sheet is placed into contact with the plate 1, the cup will be further flattened,

nd due to the recess into which the cup tits, will. with toe platen, present a continuous flat surface which will hold-the sheet into contact with the plate at all points.

Extending across and through suitable journals in the frame 1 the drive. shaft 31, ada )ted to be continuously rotated by a. pulley 32, fixed to the outer end thereof, from any suitable source of power. This shaft also carries thecam 7, and the pumpcam 33 which delivers the outward stroke to the piston of the double acting air pump 26 through a lever This lever has one end attached to the Theoperationof-the pump is synchronous piston of the pump and the other end pivoted to the frame A and has mounted, near its longitudinal center, a roller to engage the face-ofthecam- 33. The-inward stroke is deliveredto the piston by the'spring 36; The

air-inta-lre and outlet of the pump isconnected with the suction cup 13 through the hollow stem-12' and theflexible tubing 37, a portion of which has been cutaway in the'drawin gs.

with that of the platen 4 and is so timed as to create a suctioninthecup whenthe platen is in one position and todischargeai-r through the cup when the platen is in another po'si-' tiou, the object of which will he'presently described. r

The stack of sheets 6 are'held in a proper position within the frame- A by the brackets 28-38 8940' and the spring members 41 which bear inwardly against the edges of the sheets, and in the event that any of the sheets are moved fromtheir truezpositioniby the sep- I arating and conveying action, these springs will again position them against the bracke Supporting the sheets inthestack'is'a plate 42, fro-mwhich depends a rod slidably fitted in a bearing 44. This rod i's urged% upward by means of a spirally; wound spring which has its outer end fix'edto the shaft 43: and its innerend attached to the frame Upward movement ofthe stack as a wholeis limited by a-lever'4 6 sli dably mounted in a slotted bearing', on and',-para'l-l'el to the frame A, its upper right angle end extending inward-fora c'listanceover and above the stack ofsheet's. This levetis desi-gned'to-have re-- 0 ipr'ocatory movement, and predetermined times,"will lift to allow -the topmost sheet of the stack to he removed. The upward movement of the whole stack is prevented at this time by the adju'stab-lgy m'ount'ed tapered wedge 47, 'held anct:operating in a tapered 41 lOll-fllt-lltli'l'lflhUlla-111ml" foi'med in the bearing 44' of shaft l fi'. The wedge is adapted tO'JllH'V-e one of its sides bear aga inst'the shaftwhile theopposite side bearsqa gainstthe bottom of the channel, and iuay be moved; upwardly or downwardly so as to wedge-hetweenthe sur: faces or he loosely, therehetween, thereby respeetively locking the shaft against movement or allowing it to inovein the direction of urge ofthespring:45, and when moved upwardly toward the shallow end of the channel 7 link .5 operatingithrough the link 459-811(1) the bell crank will cause thevleve'r 46:to move to its lower position, whichzpositi'on determines the location for the. tOPlTlOStaShBGt in the stack 6". -At the same time'the cam: 51,

attached to the bell crank 50., bears down:- Ward on the upper endiofithe wedge: 47 moving it downward and freeing the. shaft .48,"

which, by virtue of the urge of spring 45, moves-the stack 0t sheets upward a distance equal to 'the thickness of the-sheet inst re-v movedand' against the right angle end of: lever 46: I V

In operatiomtheshaft 31 is constantly r0:- tated throughrthe pulley 32, from any suitable source of power; Assume thetparts to: be in the position shown in Fig, 1 in whi'chi the suction cup 131is-in positionfto separate the e topmost sheet in the stack; asqthe shatt isrotatedin the direction shownv by rthe: arrow on cam 7, the roller 9 travels'on the concentric section 52 of the cam 7, and the platen 4 is without movement butduring this period,v

the pump cam: 33 is moving the piston of pump 26 downwardand: exhausting. the air from the suction cup, causing it to gripi the topmost sheet and separateiit, as previously explained, from the remainder of the stack..- As the roller 9"passe's to the excentric per-v tion 53 of the-cam 7', the: lever 81 is forced downward and the arms. 3 carry the platen,

and the sheet affixed to the cup:- 1 3,Iupwarcl and' against the plate 1-. During; this: upward movement-of the platen-4the link: 5 has caused it to change its L posit-ion, lemme to-the arms 3 ,by'rocking it'on the shaft :15.

and the cam 16 has, through the lever-"1:7,

drawn the suction cup back into a reeess 23 formed'in the platent. Thealink '5 ll'liltS up- Ward movement has, through theconnecting 5:

I link 49 and bellcrank 50, moved theilever 46' to its downwardmost'position:and? the cam 51 has moved the wedge 47 outward, thereby releasing the shaft 43 a-ndallowing the stack of sheetsti to be moved,-,by the-urgeiof spring 45, upward and against the angular end-of the lever 46. The roller, 9 having now reached the concentric portion 54' of the earn 7, the platen 4is held against theplate 1' durin2gthe period required for the roller topass. over this section of the cam duringthis period the sheet, held by the suction cup, is,presse d, by the platen and cup,into close contact with the plate 1 and may be submitted tothe action of s a light 55. When theroller 9 reaches the eX- centric section 56 of thecam 7 it moves upward and the platen 4 is drawn away from'the, plate 1 carrying the printedsheet away with it a short distance; at this'point the cam 33 allows the spring 36 to move the piston in the pump 26 to the; upper end ofthe cylinder,

exhausting; air through the cup 18 and releasing the sheet held thereby whichisthen carried away by 'gravi-ty-into the guide chute 57through which it is discharged fromithe machine. After traveling over section 56 of cam" 7 the roller 9 reaches the starting point and the cup 13 is again in'position to grasp and separate another sheet.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a sheet separator and conveyer which may be operated continuously and which will separate a single sheet from a stack, convey it to a printing position, place it into contact with a plate for a predetermined period of time and then discharge it from the machine. I have provided a positioning of the sheet magazine and the printing plate so that the sheets may lie in a horizontal'position in the magazine but will be in an inclined or perpendicular position at the plate so that, after being released, they will be carried from the printing position by gravity, this positioning also provides a short conveyage distance from the magazine to the printing plate so that only a minimum amount of time will be spent on the trip between the magazine and the plate. 7 I have provided a means for elevating the sheets in the magazine which will maintain the topmost sheet in the stack at the proper level regardless of the number or the varying thicknesses ot'thesheets. I have also provided means whereby aflexible suction cup will ef' tectively separate a single sheet from a stack and also serve as asheet holding means while the-sheet is being conveyed 'to and against a plate, and, during the treatment of said sheet, will serve as apart of the platen for holding the said sheet into contact with the plate, and after treatment will remove the sheet from the plate. 1 a

Iclaim: i I

1. Inca sheet separator and conveyer a magazine for holding a stack of sheets, means for holding a printing plate in an inclined or perpendicularposition relative to the face ot-the sheets, a platen adapted to travel to and'between the stack and the plate, a sheet holder mounted on said platen, means for swinging the platen so that its face will be inclined relative to the face of the sheets when in one position andwhen in another position will be parallel to the said plate and means for operating the platen and sheet holding means to convey sheets from the magazine to theplate. Y t

2. In a sheet separator and conveyer a magazine for'holding a plurality of sheets, in ians'for positioning the outwardmost sheet at a definite, outward position in the magazine, a flexible suction cup, means for bringing said cup into contact with the outwardmost sheet in the magazine,- means for aflixing the sheet to the cup, means for altering theshape of the cup to flex and separate the affixed sheet from theother sheets in the magazine, means for removing the separated sheet from the magazine and means for moving the succeeding sheet into the'said outward position.

3. In a machine of the character described a magazine for holding a stack of sheets to be printed, means for holding a printing plate, means for holding, the outwardmost sheet in the stack at a definite outward position in the magazine, a sheet carrier adapted to be projected'into the magazine to grasp and separate a single sheet from the stack then carry it from the magazine to and against the plate then hold it into contact with the plate for a predetermined period of time then remove it from the, plate and means for moving the succeeding sheet of the stack into said outward position in the magazine.

4. In a sheet separator and conveyer a flexible pneumatic sheet gripping member, an oblique position for said member relative to and against the outwardmost sheet in a stack, means for afl ixing the sheet to the memher while in said oblique position, means for temporarily altering the shape of the memher, and means employing the member and the oblique position together with the temporary change in shape to separate the affixed sheet from the stack. 7

,5. In a sheet separator and conveyer a flexible pneumatic sheet gripping member, means for bringing said member intoengaging position with the outwardmost sheet of a stack while in an oblique position relative thereto, means for producing suction between the member and the sheet to first afix the sheet to the member then temporarilvchange the shape of the member toflex andcause a separation of the afiiXed sheet from the stack.

6. In a sheet separator and conveyer a flexible pneumatic sheet gripping member having a sealing rim, an oblique engaging position for said member relative to and against the outwardmost sheet of a stack, means tor altering the. shape of the member to bring all points on the sealing rim into contact with the said sheet, 1116LI1S- for producing suction between the member and the sheet to first aflix the sheet to the member and then tenniorarily change the shape of the member to flex andcause a separation otthe attired sheet from the stack. r

7. In a machine of the character described a means for holding a printing'plate, a magazine for holding a stack of sheets to be printed, a platen adapted to travel from the magazine to the plate, means for rocking the plat en to change its angular position relative to V the plate when at the magazine, a sheet gripper, means for projecting said gripper into the magazine to engage a, sheet then separate it from the underlying sheet then withdraw it from the magazine, means for conveying the sheet to the plate for treatment, means for discharging the printed sheet and means for holding the outwardmost sheet in the pneumatic sheet gripper on'said platen, an;

means for holding a printing plate, a 1naga-:- zine for holding a stack of sheets to be printed, a platen adapted to travel and carry sheet material from the magazine to the plate, a

oblique sheet engaging position for said gripper relative to and againt the outward:

most sheet in the magazine, means for affix mg a sheet to the. gripper, means for releasing the sheet after treatment at the plate and means employing said oblique position tofacilitate sheet separation.

9. In a sheet separator and conveyer ameans for holding a printing plate, a magazine for holding a stack of sheets, a sheet carrier adapted to travel. from the magazine tothe plate, apneumatlc sheet gripper on Sftld carrier, means for rocking said gripper so that when at the plate it will be parallel therewith and when at the magazine it will be inclined relative .to the sheets in the stack.

zine for holding a stack of sheets, means for positioning the outwardmost sheet in the. stack at a definite outward position in the magazine, a sheet gripper,means for afiix ing a sheet to the gripper and for warping the gripper to flex and raise the sheet edge, means for withdrawing the raised sheet from the magazine and for conveying it toa printing position on the plate, means for flexing the sheet edge while it is being Withdrawn to facilitate sheet separation, means for removing the sheet from the plate after treatment and means for discharging it from the machine.

11. In a sheet separator and conveyer a flexible pneumatic member adapted to grasp,

separate and lift a single sheet from a stack,

means for producing suction between the member and the outwardmost sheet in the stack to first afiiX the sheet to the member then warp the member to flex and lift a portion of the affixed sheet and a second means for flexing the sheet while it is being lifted from the stack to facilitate sheet separation.

12. In a sheet separator and conveyer a magazine for holding a' stack of sheets to be printed, means for maintaining the outwardmost sheet of the stack at adefinite outward position in the magazine, meansfor holding a printing plate in a position parallel or in clined relative to the perpendicular face of the stack, a sheet carrier adapted to travel from the magazine to the plate, a. sheet gripper on said carrier, means for separating a single sheet from the stack, means for operating the sheet gripper and carrier toconvey the separated sheet to the plate for treatment, means for removing the sheet from the plate after treatment and for c lischarging it from the'machi'ne-J n 13. In a sheet separator and conveyor a iprintingplataga magazine forholding aistack ofasheetsto be printed, a platen adapted to have ;recipzrocating movement to :and between the niagaaineland thelplate, means for frocking the platen to change itsangular position relatweto the plate when at the magazine,

:a sheet ppefr on -the platen, means for-profleet-Zing said gripper lll'CO the, magazine to grasp a sheet when the platen is at the, magazine and meansxfor wathdrawing at nto the platen when the platen is rat :the plate Plea-1n. a sheet separator and 'conveyer a magazine-for iholding :a stack of sheets to be printed, means'for holding a printing plate in a position parallel or inclined relative i'tO the perpendicular face 'ofithe stack, a platen and sheet gripper adapted to travel from the magazine to the plate, means for projecting said gripper into the magazine to grasp and withdraw a single sheet, means for flexing the sheet at its edge while being withdrawn to facilitate sheet separation and means for operating the platen and sheet gripper to convey sheets from the magazine to the plate. 15. In a machine of the character described amagazine for holding a stack of sheets to be printed, means for holding a printing plate in a position either parallel or inclined relative to the perpendicular face of the stack, means for positioning the outwardmost sheet inthe stackat a definite outward position in the magazine, automatic means for separating a single sheet from the stack carrying it to and holding it into contact with the plate for a predetermined period of time then removing it from the plate then discharging it from the machine and mechanism for effecting the severaloperations successively and continuously. i

' 16. I11 a sheet separator and conveyor a magazine for holding a stack of sheets, means for holding a printing plate in a position either parallel or inclined relative to the perpendicular face of the stack, a platen and sheet gripping means adapted to travel from stack, means for operating the platen and sheet gripper to convey sheets from the magazine to the plateand means for roolnng thc platen to change its angular position relative to the-plate when atthe magazine.

17. In a sheet separator and conveyer a magazine for holdlng a stack of sheets to be printed, means for holding a printing plate in a position parallel or inclined relative to the perpendicular face of the stack, a platen andsheet gripper adapted to travel from the magazine to the plate, means for projecting said gripper into the magazine to grasp a sheet then separate itfrom the underlying sheet then withdraw it from the m ga zine and means for flexing the sheet While being Withdrawn to facilitate sheet separa tion. v

18. In a sheet separator and oonveyer 5 means for holding a printing plate, a magazine for holding a stack of sheets, a sheet carrier adapted to convey sheets from the magazine to the plate, a flexible pneumatic sheet gripping member, an oblique sheet 10 engaging position for said member relative to and against the outwarclmost sheet in the stack, means for affixing the sheet to the member, means for temporarily changing the shape of the member and means employing the member and the oblique position together with a temporary change in the shape of the member to separate the EtifiXGd sheet from the stack.

. ARTHUR J FREEMAN. 

